International speakers will deliberate on key industry-related issues over three days starting Oct. 10. High-profile companies, including Abdulla Fuad Holding, Sinopec, Taqa and GE Oil and Gas, are sponsoring the event.

US Ambassador James B. Smith, British Charge D'Affaires Roddy Drummond, Ieda Gomes, head of new ventures, BP, UK; Steve Spicer, vice president, upstream (Eastern Hemisphere), Foster Wheeler, UK; Fatih Birol, chief economist, International Energy Agency, France; Ernie Delfos, CEO, EniRepSa Gas Ltd., Saudi Arabia; Carlos Morales-Gil, director general, E&P, PEMEX, Mexico; Peter Hynes, partner, advisory practice, KPMG Al Fozan & Al Shadan, Saudi Arabia; and Russell Croley, MENA business development manager, Halliburton, UAE, will be among the speakers.

The event gives exhibitors the opportunity to join more than 300 private and public companies, research institutions and government agencies for the only show that gathers all the oil and gas industry leaders working in the Eastern Province under the same roof. Participants share the common aim of promoting themselves, strengthening business relationships and at the same time finding new projects and opportunities.

Organizers said 90 percent of the exhibition space is already sold out “with an impressive global representation” from participating countries, including Argentina, Belgium, China, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, India, Iran, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, UAE, UK, Turkey, Tunisia, the Netherlands, Singapore, Pakistan and Qatar.

SAOGE was launched in November 2008 as the premier event for the oil and gas industry in Saudi Arabia. It was established to meet the requirements of the world's biggest oil producer to host its own focused oil and gas show.

SAOGE attracts high-level technical experts, key industry professionals, specialists and decision makers in various sectors of the petroleum industry. It has become the largest oil and gas specific exhibition seen in over a decade in the Eastern Province.

In its 2nd edition, SAOGE played host to 274 companies from 31 countries, which included Italian and Chinese pavilions. Co-organized by IES and DIEC, it enjoyed a 23 percent growth in terms of participation compared to SAOGE 2008. Covering a total of 9,200 sq meters, the exhibition saw participation from all continents, with 40 percent of the exhibitors coming from the GCC countries.